Cooperation with relevant international organizations, such as with scientific bodies, UN agencies
and other conventions, is an important dimension of the Convention process. The Convention
itself calls on the COP to "seek and utilize … the services and cooperation of, and
information provided by, competent international organizations and intergovernmental and
non-governmental bodies" (Article 7.2 (l)). The aim is to ensure that the Convention process has
the best scientific and other relevant information available. The COP and its subsidiary bodies
also seek to ensure that the climate change related activities of other international organizations
are coherent with the Convention process and respond to the needs of the Parties, and that potential
linkages and synergies with climate change related matters are appropriately taken into account.

At SBSTA 10 (FCCC/SBSTA/1999/6,
paras 15-22), SBSTA requested the secretariat to continue to explore with international organizations
other areas where their expertise and resources could support the various work programmes under the
Convention process, and to inform it at subsequent sessions on progress achieved; the secretariat was
also encouraged to explore possible ways of strengthening cooperation with the other Rio Convention
secretariats on issues of common interest.

Since then, cooperation with other international organizations has become an integral part of the
SBSTA agenda. Initiatives taken include the cooperation with other Conventions’ secretariats in
the preparation of technical papers and reports that consider the interlinkages between climate
change, biodiversity and desertification.

At SBSTA 14 (FCCC/SBSTA/2001/2,
paras 39-42) the formation of a Joint Liaison
Group (JLG) between the secretariats of the CBD, the UNCCD and the UNFCCC was endorsed, with the
aim of enhancing coordination between the three conventions and exploring options for further
cooperation.